Economist and Board Chairman of MTN Ghana, Dr Ishmael Yamson, has admitted that the company was late in publicly condemning xenophobic attacks against Ghanaians and other Africans in South Africa.

Dr Yamson said MTN Ghana should have issued its own statement earlier, despite a condemnation already issued by the South Africa Ghana Business Chamber.

“I apologise that we haven’t done that.”

He was responding to criticism that corporate institutions, including MTN, had remained silent while Ghanaians and other African nationals faced attacks in South Africa.

Dr Yamson said the corporate sector in South Africa had spoken against the attacks.

“The corporate sector in South Africa has been very outspoken against it. The MTN chairman spoke directly, and he condemned it in no uncertain terms.”

He also said the South Africa Ghana Business Chamber had issued a statement condemning the attacks.

But he acknowledged that MTN Ghana was expected to speak directly because of its size and influence in Ghana.

“If you come to Ghana, MTN is big, and therefore, everybody would expect MTN to come out and issue a statement.”

He stressed that MTN Ghana had no connection to the attacks.

“Let me say now here that we condemn it unreservedly. We have nothing to do with it. We dissociate ourselves from it completely.”

Dr Yamson said more than 120,000 Ghanaians are shareholders in MTN Ghana and stressed the company’s identity as a Ghanaian corporate entity.

“MTN Ghana is a corporate citizen of Ghana. It is not MTN South Africa.”

He also criticised South Africa’s handling of the attacks, saying the country could not promote African integration while treating African migrants with hostility.

“What is happening in South Africa is bad. And I can tell you that we are angry.”

He said he was particularly angry because of the contradiction between South Africa’s continental ambitions and the treatment of other Africans.

He also condemned calls for retaliation against South African businesses operating in Ghana. Dr Yamson said such action would ultimately hurt Ghanaians.

“If you target MTN Ghana, you can target it, but at the end of the day, you are destroying something that you should protect.”

He said MTN Ghana has 120,000 Ghanaian shareholders and that about 98% of its employees are Ghanaian.

He also pointed to the company’s contribution to Ghana’s economy. “MTN is the biggest taxpayer in this country.”

He said MTN Ghana operates under Ghanaian law and has not wronged anyone in Ghana.

“MTN Ghana has not done anything to anybody in Ghana, here in Ghana. Has not reneged on any of its commitments in this country.”

Dr Yamson further revealed that MTN Ghana had planned to provide financial support to Ghanaians returning from South Africa.

He said the board initially decided to set aside GH¢10 million as a welcome-back package.

“When the issue broke, I can tell you, the board immediately decided that we will set aside ¢10 million to welcome for as a welcome back.”

But the company later reconsidered the approach after realising that immediate assistance alone would not be enough.

“What we then began to decide is that, and many of them, some I understand they were allowed only two suitcases when they are on their return. So how do we create a fund that we will use to help these people to start life all over again?”

He said the company planned to add another GH¢10 million to create a fund to support the returnees in rebuilding their lives.

“I think the mistake that we made was not to have engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately about this.”

“Sometimes when you are big, your internal bureaucracy can also delay a few things. But we have not forgotten. We will do it.” “We’ll do it in a big way. We’ll do it in a way that will make more meaning.”

He also commended other organisations that had already supported the returnees.

“For those who did it, Telecel and the others, I really congratulate them. Pentecost Church, I congratulate them.”